If you’re a small business owner, you’ve probably done this before: You open your bank app.You see the balance.You decide how you feel about your business based on that number. High balance? Relief.Low balance? Stress.Somewhere in between? Confusion. You’re not alone. In fact, more than 60% of small business owners say cash flow uncertainty is their biggest financial stress (U.S. Bank Small Business Study). But here’s the problem: your bank balance doesn’t tell you how your b

Mixing personal and business spending is one of the most common issues we see with small business owners. Especially in the early stages. It often starts small.A lunch here.A subscription there.One quick purchase on the wrong card. Over time, those small moments add up to bigger confusion. WHY BLENDED SPENDING CREATES PROBLEMS When personal and business expenses are mixed: Reports become less accurate Categories get messy It’s harder to understand true profitability Tax seaso

At the start of a new year, many small business owners sit down with fresh goals and big plans. New revenue targets.New ideas.New momentum. Then they open their numbers. Not because it feels inspiring, but because planning, taxes, and real business decisions require it. What they often discover is not that the business struggled last year, but that the financial picture is unclear. Transactions are uncategorized. Accounts do not fully reconcile. Reports feel unreliable or dif

Every year on Veterans Day, we pause to honor the men and women who have worn our nation’s uniform and those who chose service, sacrifice, and a commitment to something greater than themselves. But for many veterans, that sense of duty doesn’t end when their military career does. It evolves. It becomes a new mission with one rooted in community, hard work, and the desire to make a lasting impact. Across the country, veteran-owned businesses carry that same spirit of service f

Every October, the talk turns to ghosts, ghouls, and things that go bump in the night. But around here, we keep hearing about a different kind of haunting — the one hiding inside your QuickBooks. Yep, the ghost bookkeeper.You know, the one who was all communication and promises in the beginning but now you can’t seem to get a straight answer, an updated report, or even proof your books are being touched. If that sounds familiar, here are a few signs your bookkeeper might be g

2026 is the year of steady, smart growth. For small business owners, that means getting back to the basics creating structure, simplifying systems, and building a strong foundation that can handle whatever the year brings. At Conner Strategies, we believe growth doesn’t have to mean chaos. It’s about doing the right things, the right way, again and again. Here are the top 10 things every small business needs to grow stronger in 2026. 1️⃣ Get Clear on Your Numbers You can’t gr

If you’ve ever spent a Saturday night buried under receipts, muttering “I’ll get organized next month,” this one’s for you. Letting go of your bookkeeping feels kind of like handing your firstborn to a babysitter. You want the break… but can they really handle it? Here’s the truth: a good bookkeeper won’t just “handle it” they’ll transform your business. And your stress level. And probably your sleep schedule. Let’s talk about what actually happens when you finally let a pro

Running a small business takes heart, hustle, and a whole lot of energy. Between serving customers, building your brand, and managing the day-to-day, it can feel like there’s never enough time to handle everything on your plate. And while keeping up with the numbers might not be the most exciting part of your job, it’s one of the most important. For many owners, doing the books works fine at first. But as sales grow and responsibilities multiply, the financial side can quickl

Running a small business means wearing a lot of hats — owner, manager, customer service rep, and sometimes even “accidental accountant.” For many small business owners, keeping up with finances is one of the most stressful parts of the job. That’s when the big question comes up: Do I need a CPA or a bookkeeper? The truth is, both play important but different roles in keeping your business healthy. Let’s break it down in a way that makes sense — and shows why having both in yo